Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
March 25, 2018 Cycle B
Red priestly vestments symbolize a life of sacrifice and Christ's preparation to accomplish His Paschal Mystery. 

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Liturgical Year Cycle B 2017-2018

                 Commemoration of the Lord's Entrance into Jerusalem

The Procession

Entrance Antiphon:
Matthew 21:9  H
osanna to the Son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel.  Hosanna in the highest.

The Priest Approaches and Kisses the Altar:  The altar is a symbol of Christ.  In it are cut five crosses to recall the five wounds of Christ.  The altar also represents the Church and has embedded in it the relics of her saints.  The priest comes to the altar to celebrate the Sacrifice in the Church's name.  Because of the glory surrounding the altar upon which the divine Sacrifice will be made, the kiss of the priest unites the Church to Christ, its Redeemer.

Priest:   In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 
All:   
A
men.
Priest:   Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
All:  And with your spirit.

Priest:  Dear brothers and sisters, since the beginning of Lent until now we have prepared our hearts by penance and charitable works.  Today we gather together to herald with the whole Church the beginning of the celebration of our Lord's Paschal Mystery, that is to say, of his Passion and Resurrection.  For it was to accomplish this mystery that he entered his own city of Jerusalem.  Therefore, with all faith and devotion, let us commemorate the Lord's entry into the city for our salvation, following in his footsteps, so that, being made by his grace partakers of the Cross, we may have a share also in his Resurrection and in his life.

Priest:  Let us pray.  Almighty ever-living God, sanctify these branches with your blessing, that we, who follow Christ the King in exultation, may reach the eternal Jerusalem through him.  Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
All:   Amen.

The Gospel:  The Liturgy of the Word is completed by the reading of the Gospel.  Before its reading, the members of the assembly trace the sign of the cross upon the forehead to indicate their mental acceptance of the Truth, on the lips to indicate their readiness to announce it, and over the heart to indicate their sincere desire to accept it into their lives.  The "Good News" of the Gospel tells that God's kingdom has come for all to hear, accept, and announce to the world for its salvation.  It is God who is speaking to us.  Christ comes to teach us by the example of His life and by His own words.

Priest:   C
leanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel.  Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away.

Priest:   The Lord be with you.
All:    A
nd also with you.
Priest/Deacon:   A
reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
All:    G
lory to you, Lord.

The Gospel before the Mass

Mark 11:1-10

W
hen Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately on entering it, you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat.  Untie it and bring it here.  If anyone should say to you, 'Why are you doing this?' reply, 'The Master has need of it and will send it back here at once.'"  So they went off and found a colt tethered at a gate outside on the street, and they untied it.  Some of the bystanders said to them "What are you doing, untying the colt?"  They answered them just as Jesus had told them to, and they permitted them to do it.  So they brought the colt to Jesus and put their cloaks over it.  And he sat on it.  Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out:  "Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!  Hosanna in the highest!"

Priest:   Dear brothers and sisters, like the crowds who acclaimed Jesus in Jerusalem, let us go forth in peace.

Entrance Song
Antiphon:  T
he children of the Hebrews, carrying olive branches, went to meet the lord, crying out and saying: Hosanna in the highest.

Psalm 24:  The Lord's is the earth and its fullness, the world, and those who dwell in it.  It is he who set it on the seas; on the rivers he made it firm.

Antiphon:  The children of the Hebrews, carrying olive branches, went to meet the lord, crying out and saying: Hosanna in the highest.

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?  The clean of hands and pure of heart, whose soul is not set on vain things, who has not sworn deceitful words.

Antiphon:  The children of the Hebrews, carrying olive branches, went to meet the lord, crying out and saying: Hosanna in the highest.

Blessings from the Lord shall he receive, and right reward from the God who saves him.  Such are the people who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Antiphon:  The children of the Hebrews, carrying olive branches, went to meet the lord, crying out and saying: Hosanna in the highest.

O gates, lift high your heads; grow higher, ancient doors.  Let him enter, the king of glory!  Who is this king of glory?  The Lord, the mighty, the valiant; the Lord, the valiant in war.

Antiphon:  The children of the Hebrews, carrying olive branches, went to meet the lord, crying out and saying: Hosanna in the highest.

O gates, lift high your heads; grow higher, ancient doors.  Let him enter, the king of glory!  Who is this king of glory?  He, the Lord of hosts, he is the king of glory.

Antiphon:  The children of the Hebrews, carrying olive branches, went to meet the lord, crying out and saying: Hosanna in the highest.

Hymn to Christ the King
Choir:  G
lory and honor and praise be to you, Christ, King and Redeemer, to whom young children cried out loving Hosannas with joy.

All:   Glory and honor and praise be to you, Christ, King and Redeemer, to whom young children cried out loving Hosannas with joy.

Choir:  Israel's King are you, King David's magnificent offspring; you are the ruler who come blest in the name of the Lord.

All:  Glory and honor and praise be to you, Christ, King and Redeemer, to whom young children cried out loving Hosannas with joy.

Choir:   Heavenly hosts on high unite in singing your praises; men and women on earth and all creation join in.

All:  Glory and honor and praise be to you, Christ, King and Redeemer, to whom young children cried out loving Hosannas with joy.

Choir:   Bearing branches of palm, Hebrews came crowding to greet you; see how with prayers and hymns we come to pay you our vows.

All:  Glory and honor and praise be to you, Christ, King and Redeemer, to whom young children cried out loving Hosannas with joy.

Choir:   They offered gifts of praise to you, so near to your Passion; see how we sing this song now to you reigning on high.

All:  Glory and honor and praise be to you, Christ, King and Redeemer, to whom young children cried out loving Hosannas with joy.

Choir:   Those you were pleased to accept; now accept our gifts of devotion, good and merciful King, lover of all that is good.

All:  Glory and honor and praise be to you, Christ, King and Redeemer, to whom young children cried out loving Hosannas with joy.

Priest:   As the Lord entered the holy city, the children of the Hebrews proclaimed the resurrection of life.  Waving their branches of palm, they cried: Hosanna in the highest.

All:    When the people heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they went out to meet him.  Waving their branches.

The Priest Approaches and Kisses the Altar:  The altar is a symbol of Christ.  In it are cut five crosses to recall the five wounds of Christ.  The altar also represents the Church and has embedded in it the relics of her saints.  The priest comes to the altar to celebrate the Sacrifice in the Church's name.  Because of the glory surrounding the altar upon which the divine Sacrifice will be made, the kiss of the priest unites the Church to Christ, its Redeemer.

The Collect:    The priest lifts the united prayers and petitions of the congregation to God the Father through the merits of Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.

Priest:   Let us pray.
Priest:   Almighty ever-living God, who as an example of humility for the human race to follow caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the Cross, graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection.  Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

                                           Liturgy of the Word

Christ is made known to us through the Old Testament which prepares us to recognize Him.  In those days, God inspired men who spoke His message.  Now, the New Testament Gospel reading announces His presence to us directly through His Son.  Both readings bring God's message to us.  Our responsibility is to respond.

The First Reading:  From the Old Testament Book of Isaiah. 

Isaiah 50:4-7

The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.  Morning after morning, he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back.  I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.  The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.

Priest/Reader:   The Word of the Lord.
All:    T
hanks be to God.


The Responsorial Psalm:  This Psalm praising God, is a prayer to God, or recommends the practice of virtue.  It is sung as an interlude between the scriptural readings.  It provides yet another instructional setting and invites the assembly to imitate the cantor who sings a repeated response to the verses of an ancient Psalm many of which are attributed to King David.  The verses are sung first by a cantor (song leader) accompanied by instruments, the refrain is sung by the people. 

Responsorial
Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24

Cantor:   My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
All:   R/.  My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Cantor:   All who see me scoff at me; they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads: “He relied on the Lord; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, if he loves him.”
All:   R/.  My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Cantor:   Indeed, many dogs surround me, a pack of evildoers closes in upon me; they have pierced my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones.
All:   R/.  My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Cantor:   They divide my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots.  But you, O Lord, be not far from me; O my help, hasten to aid me.
All:    R/.  My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Cantor:   I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you: “You who fear the Lord, praise him; all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him; revere him, all you descendants of Israel!”
All:    R/.  M
y God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

The Second Reading:  Taken  from the New Testament, often from a letter written by St. Paul.

Philippians 2:6-11

Christ Jesus, through he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.  Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Priest/Reader:   The word of the Lord.
All:   Thanks be to God.

The Alleluia:  An ancient expression of joy anticipating the Lord's message we will hear in the Gospel.
St. Paul to the Philippians 2:8-9

Cantor:    Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
ALL:  R/.  P
raise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
Cantor:    C
hrist became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.
ALL:  R/.  Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

The Gospel:  The Liturgy of the Word is completed by the reading of the Gospel.  Before its reading, the members of the assembly trace the sign of the cross upon the forehead to indicate their mental acceptance of the Truth, on the lips to indicate their readiness to announce it, and over the heart to indicate their sincere desire to accept it into their lives.  The "Good News" of the Gospel tells that God's kingdom has come for all to hear, accept, and announce to the world for its salvation.  It is God who is speaking to us.  Christ comes to teach us by the example of His life and by His own words.

Narrative of Our Lord's Passion is read:

Lent - Palm Sunday (The Passion of Jesus Christ)
            Gospel of St. Mark

Priest:
   T
he Gospel of the Lord.
All:    P
raise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Priest:   Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away.

The Priest's Sermon:    The priest develops, explains, and comments upon the Master's words, so our minds may be
enlightened, and our hearts enriched.

(A priestly reflection upon this Gospel)

Profession of Faith:     We state in the Nicene Creed the principles of our faith in precise and definite terms.

All:   I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.  I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.  God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.  For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.  For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.  He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.  I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.  I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.  I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.  Amen.

General Intercessions:   We pray for the needs of the pope, civic leaders, our own needs, those of others, the sick, the dying, those who have died, the church, and the world.  The response of all to each intercession:  Lord, hear our prayer.

All:   Lord, hear our prayer.
 
                                  The Liturgy of the Eucharist

 Gifts of bread and wine symbolizing ourselves are presented to the priest who will offer them to God the Father.  Through the Holy Spirit, they will become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ whom we receive in Holy Communion.  Jesus unites Himself with us for our spiritual nourishment and strength.  Today, when individuals do not present their own personal offerings of bread and wine, the monetary contribution symbolizes the material of their united sacrifice.  The priest makes and offering of the bread and wine to God.

Preparation of the Bread and Wine:

Priest:   Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life. 
All:    Blessed be God for ever.

Priest:    By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.

Priest:   Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you; fruit of the vine and work of human hands it will become our spiritual drink.
All:
    Blessed be God for ever.

Priest:    With humble spirit and contrite heart may we be accepted by you, O Lord, and may our sacrifice in your sight this day be pleasing to you, Lord God.

The Priest's Hands are Washed: This act was traditionally necessary because the priest handled the various gifts presented by the people.  Now, the cleansing act using water reminds the priest and ourselves of the need to cleanse not only the hands but the soul.  Soon, the priest's hands will hold the actual body of Christ, and we will become His dwelling place.

Priest:    Wash me o Lord, from m iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
               Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.


All:    
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.

Prayer over the Gifts:  Speaking in our name, the priest asks the Father to accept the gifts we offer through him.

Priest:   Through the Passion of your Only Begotten Son, O Lord, may our reconciliation with you be near at hand, so that, though we do not merit it by our own deeds, yet by this sacrifice made once for all, we may feel already the effects of your mercy.  Through Christ our Lord.

Eucharistic Prayer:   (Number Two: The priest may select from several forms).

Priest:
    The Lord be with you.
All:    And with your spirit. 

Priest:
    Lift up your hearts.
All:   We lift them up to the Lord.

Priest:    Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
All:    It is right and just. 

Preface Prayer: 

Priest:   It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord.  For, though innocent, he suffered willingly for sinners and accepted unjust condemnation to save the guilty.  His Death has washed away our sins, and his Resurrection has purchased our justification.  And so, with all the Angels, we praise you, as in joyful celebration we acclaim: 

Acclamation:

Priest and All:   Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of hosts.  Heaven and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.

Priest:   You are indeed Holy, O Lord, the fountain of all holiness.  Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The priest repeats the words which Christ used at his Last Supper when He changed the bread into His Body and the wine into His Blood.  His Body and Blood are truly present but under the appearance of bread and wine.  The death of Christ is prolonged in each of those who receive Him worthily.  We apply His death to ourselves so that we may share His glory.  This moment is the most solemn on earth because it is Divine act which enables us to apply to ourselves the Cross which Christ willingly took upon Himself. 

We are called to die to sin and lift our very selves to God so that we become changed; to do as God would have us do, to become what God would have us become.  Our own little cross can lift us into union with Christ's Cross so we may earn the joys of everlasting happiness with God the Father. 

The Lord's Supper:  At the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his Passion, he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you.

In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice and, once more giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.  Do this in memory of me.

Memorial Acclamation: (The priest may select from several forms). 

Priest:     The mystery of faith.
Priest / All:    When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.

Memorial Prayer:  (The priest may select from several forms).

Priest:  
Recalls Christ's Passion, Resurrection, Ascension, the Church, the dead, and ourselves.
T
herefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of his Death and Resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you.  Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

Remember, Lord. your Church, spread throughout the world, and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with _____ our Pope, and _____ our Bishop, and all the clergy.  Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection, and all who have died in your mercy: welcome them into the light of your face. 

Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with the blessed Apostles, and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages, we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life, and may praise and glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ.
               
Prayer of Praise:  
Through him, with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever.
All:   Amen.      

                       Communion Rite

In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we symbolically offer ourselves to the Lord through the gifts of bread and wine.  At the Consecration, we offer our very lives to be united the God the Father through the Cross of Christ.  In Communion, we find that we have not died at all, but have come to life.  We have surrendered ourselves to God through His Divine Son, Jesus Christ.  In return become ennobled and enriched.  We give up time and we get eternity, we give up our sin and we receive grace, we surrender our self-will and receive the strength of the Divine Will, we give up ourselves and we receive everything.  For the Son of God says to us that unless we receive Him we shall not have Divine life in us.  But it is not really we who receive Christ as it is Christ who receives us, bringing us into Himself.

God makes His Cross the very means of our salvation and our life.  While we have crucified Him, His eternal love cannot be extinguished.  Christ willed to give us the very life we crucified in our Redemption, the Consecration of Holy Thursday into Communion, His death into our everlasting life.

The Lord's Prayer:

Priest:  At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
Priest and All:   Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be they name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest:  Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

All:  For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.

Prayer for Peace:

Priest:  Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will.  Who live and reign for ever and ever.
All:   A
men.

Priest:  The peace of the Lord be with you always.
All:   A
nd with your spirit.
Priest:   L
et us offer each other the sign of peace.

Breaking of the Bread:

Priest:   May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.

Priest and All:  Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
                          L
amb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
                          Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Priest Preparation:  May the receiving of your Body and Blood, Lord Jesus Christ, not bring me to judgment and condemnation, but through your loving mercy be for me protection in mind and body and a healing remedy.

Priest:   Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.  Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. 

Priest and All:   Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the world and my soul shall be healed.

Priest:   May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.
              May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.

Communion Antiphon:

Matthew 26:42 F
ather, if this chalice cannot pass without my drinking it, your will be done.

Communion of the Faithful:

Priest:   The Body of Christ.    
The Faithful:   
Amen.

Priest/Deacon/
Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister:
  The Blood of Christ.   
The Faithful:   
Amen.

 

 

 

 





Cleansing of the Vessels:

Priest:   What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart, that what has been given to us in time may be our healing for eternity.

Prayer after Communion:

Priest:
   Let us pray.
Priest:   Nourished with these sacred gifts, we humbly beseech you, O Lord, that, just as through the death of your Son you have brought us to hope for what we believe, so by his Resurrection you may lead us to where you call.  Through Christ our Lord.

Concluding Rite

Priest:   The Lord be with you.
All:     And with your spirit. 
Priest:   Bow down for the blessing.

Dismissal Prayer:  (The priest may select from several forms)

Priest:  Look, we pray, O Lord, on this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ did not hesitate to be delivered into the hands of the wicked and submit to the agony of the Cross.  Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
All:   Amen.

Final Blessing:

Priest:   And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the son, and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you for ever.
All:    Amen.

Priest:  Go in peace, alleluia, alleluia.  
All:    Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins. 
 Save us from the fires of hell. 
 
 Lead all souls to heaven,
 especially those in most need of your mercy.

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Liturgical Year Cycle B 2017-2018